Danse Danse MacabreMacabre

By Camille Saint-By Camille Saint-SaënsSaëns

Danse Macabre is an example of Danse Macabre is an example of programme music.programme music.

Programme music is music without Programme music is music without words or narrative that tells a story.words or narrative that tells a story.

"Death" appears at midnight every year on "Death" appears at midnight every year on Halloween. Halloween.

““Death has the power to wake the dead from Death has the power to wake the dead from their graves to dance for him while he plays his their graves to dance for him while he plays his violin until the break of dawnviolin until the break of dawn

When dawn appears they must return to their When dawn appears they must return to their graves until the next yeargraves until the next year

The composer has put the 12 clock The composer has put the 12 clock chimes into the music.chimes into the music.

What instrument plays these chimes?What instrument plays these chimes?– PianoPiano– TrumpetTrumpet– HarpHarp– GlockenspielGlockenspiel

Death reaches the centre of Death reaches the centre of the graveyard and tunes up the graveyard and tunes up his violin.his violin.

A tune begins to play as all A tune begins to play as all the dead emerge from their the dead emerge from their graves. graves.

As all the dead come to life, As all the dead come to life, Death begins to play a melody Death begins to play a melody on the violin for everyone to on the violin for everyone to dance to.dance to.

How many beats are in the bar, 3 or 4 beats?How many beats are in the bar, 3 or 4 beats?

The composer has very The composer has very cleverly used an instrument to cleverly used an instrument to sound like a skeleton dancing. sound like a skeleton dancing. Imagine his bones hitting Imagine his bones hitting together.together.

Which instrument represents the skeleton?Which instrument represents the skeleton?– TambourineTambourine– TimpaniTimpani– GuitarGuitar– XylophoneXylophone– PianoPiano

The composer has also tried to The composer has also tried to use instruments to make the use instruments to make the weather seem windy. Which weather seem windy. Which family of instruments plays at family of instruments plays at this point?this point?

StringsStringsWoodwindWoodwindBrassBrassPercussionPercussion

The dance grows even The dance grows even wilder, thunder is heard in wilder, thunder is heard in the distance.the distance.Which instrument is creating Which instrument is creating the thunder?the thunder?

The night of dancing continues The night of dancing continues and all are having a good time. and all are having a good time. Listen to how the composer has Listen to how the composer has made the violins play to make it made the violins play to make it sound like people laughing.sound like people laughing.

They have partied all night They have partied all night and dawn is approaching as and dawn is approaching as the cockerel crows. Which the cockerel crows. Which instrument plays the crow?instrument plays the crow?

FluteFluteOboeOboeTrumpetTrumpetBassoonBassoon

The music ends with the dead The music ends with the dead going back into their graves. going back into their graves. Two chords are heard at the Two chords are heard at the end. How are the chords end. How are the chords played? Loud or Soft?played? Loud or Soft?